Love's labor not lost

Valentine's Day is barely a week away, probably less by the time you read this, but for Isthmus, Valentine's Day is now, with the publication of the Book of Love. The BOL has become a staple of the season, having graced our pages for decades. Originally the feature was called "Ursula's Valentines," after our long-ago advice columnist who hosted the presentation of readers' love encomiums. The volume of response from the readership soon dictated a special section all its own to contain the reams of love expressed. Thus was born the Book of Love.

After all these years, your ardor has not cooled. This year's call for submissions brought a record number of responses. We received over 850 valentines and nearly 200 photos with which to illustrate them. We also received many expressions of thanks for producing the BOL, but it's we who should thank you. After all, you write the Book of Love. We just have to sell the ads.

We get this literal labor of love out to you in plenty of time to find your message among the hordes in order to show it to the object of your affection on the appropriate day. Or maybe you make your loved one search for it. Either way, it's fun to go through and read what your creative neighbors have written. You know you can't read just one.

While all of the properly submitted valentines are in the print version, not all the photos are. However, they can all be found online at TDP (TheDailyPage.com). As I write, our web producer is putting together a slide show of them set to local love music.

One audience participation initiative wraps up, and another begins. The nominations are out, so the Academy Awards contest is on. Go to TDP to enter, and follow the link to the Oscars page. (You can also stop by the Isthmus office for a ballot.) Pick the winners in six categories for a chance to get some very nice movie-related prizes. The big one is a movie pass for a year to Sundance Cinemas, along with a gift certificate for Bar Bistro 608, their eatery. Also participating are the Orpheum Theatre with movie passes for a year; Star Cinema, a free movie a month for a year; and gift certificates from Four Star Video and Bongo Video.

The awards ceremony is Sunday, Feb. 24, writers' strike or no, they say. So the deadline to enter the contest is Feb. 23. You still have time to take in the nominated films you haven't seen - assuming the snow stops - and get your entry in. So we'll see you at the movies. And remember who loves you.